Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Moses 7

We read of the people of Enoch that -

"...the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:18)

And not the people only but Enoch -

"...built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even ZION." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:19)

As we study the Doctrine and Covenants that we learn that Zion is the celestial kingdom or the saints live by the laws of the celestial kingdom on earth.

"...and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:21)

And -

"...Zion was taken up into heaven..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:23)

Many might think that this meant that they went to dwell where God lives. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught -

"Many have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fullness, but this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters He held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fullness as those who are resurrected from the dead." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 170)

We learn that after Zion was taken up that -

"...Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven, bearing testimony of the Father and Son; and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:27)

So there were others that were translated or taken up to Zion to serve as the Prophet said, to be ministering angels. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote -

"After those in the City of Holiness were translated and taken up into heaven without tasting death, so that Zion as a people and a congregation had fled from the battle-scarred surface of the earth, the Lord sought others among men who would serve him. From the days of Enoch to the flood, new converts and true believers, except those needed to carry out the Lord’s purposes among mortals, were translated." (The Millennial Messiah, 284)

The promise was made to Enoch that in the last days -

"...righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:62)

Zion or Holy City will again be on the earth. And when that takes place the Lord tells Enoch -

"Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;
64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion..." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 7:63 - 64)

Oh that I wish I might participate in that event.